How did I get thrush?

Vaginal infections are fairly common in pregnancy. Thrush is caused by a microscopic fungus or yeast called candida albicans.

We all carry the fungus on and in our bodies. It’s a normal part of our digestive system and, generally, bacteria keep it in check. Usually, it lives harmlessly in the vagina and you won’t know you’re carrying it (FPA 2014). It only becomes a problem when there’s an imbalance in the fungus and the other micro-organisms that live on our bodies.

You’re more likely to get thrush if:

You’re pregnant. During pregnancy, the vagina is rich in a sugar called glycogen which helps thrush thrive.

You wear tight or synthetic clothing, such as jeans or nylon underwear. These create the warmth and lack of air that encourage thrush to flourish.

You use perfumed bubble bath or scented panty liners that may cause irritation.

You’ve taken antibiotics. They can affect the balance of good and bad micro-organisms in your gut.

You have a weakened immune system. This could be a result of treatment such as chemotherapy, or an infection such as HIV or AIDS.

Although thrush isn’t defined as a sexually transmitted disease, you can develop it after you’ve had sex with someone who is infected (FPA 2014).

When should I see a doctor?

If you think you have thrush, tell your doctor or midwife. Don’t suffer in silence. Your doctor may take a look at the area around your vagina to help decide what the problem is. If she is unsure whether it’s thrush, she may take a vaginal swab, which she’ll send to the lab for testing.

What is the treatment for thrush?

Your doctor may prescribe antifungal pessaries and creams that are suitable for your stage of pregnancy. You may need a full, seven-day course of treatment to clear the thrush properly (Young and Jewell 2001). However, if you’re in your first trimester, your doctor may not want to prescribe anything just yet.

If you’ve been prescribed pessaries, you may be given an applicator for inserting them in your vagina. If that’s the case, take care not to put pressure on your cervix, which is the neck of your uterus (womb). You may prefer to gently put the pessary in place using your fingers. It is best to do this at night, so they can be absorbed while you’re lying down.

Thrush can be hard to clear up during pregnancy. Make sure you complete the course of treatment that has been prescribed to you. Go back to your doctor if your symptoms haven’t cleared up in a week to two weeks.

Treatments that work for non-pregnant women may not get rid of it for you. Speak to your doctor before using over-the-counter treatments. They’re expensive, unlikely to work and may not be suitable for use during pregnancy.

Don’t take medicines that you have to swallow to treat thrush. We don’t yet know whether they are safe to take if you’re expecting a baby (NCCWCH 2008:111).

If your partner has symptoms of thrush, he’ll need treating too (FPA 2014). It is possible for him to re-infect you if you have sex after you’ve been treated, but before he has.

Are there any self-help treatments I can try?

Some of the following suggestions might be helpful:

Dab natural live, natural yogurt into and around your vagina. You can use an applicator to insert a yoghurt-covered tampon into your vagina, and remove it one hour later.

Don’t have long baths, which provide the perfect warm, moist environment for thrush.

Avoid using antiseptics, perfumed bubble bath or soap to wash the genital area. Instead, try adding a couple of drops of tea tree oil to your bath or use soap substitutes – sorbolene is probably the cheapest and is very effective (although be warned some sorbolene products containing glycerine can cause stinging).

Will thrush affect my unborn baby?

If you have an infection when you go into labour, there is a small chance that your baby will catch it as he passes through your vagina on his way into the world. If your newborn baby has thrush you’ll see white patches in his mouth. If you’re breastfeeding, both you and your baby will need treatment, because thrush can spread to your breasts, too (NICE 2006:31).

You may find thrush comes and goes while you’re pregnant. Although it may take a while to clear up and be a bit of a nuisance, it isn’t anything to worry about.

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